Cross-tie for railways.



L. 0. MUONBY.

GROSS TIE FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 13, 191s.

1,076,690., Patented Got. 28, 1913.

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Y L. C. MOONEY.

CROSS TIB FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION IILIJD MAR. Ia, 1913.

1,076,690, Patented 0013.28, 1913.

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LAWRENCE C. MOONEY, OF MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.

GROSS-TIE FOR RAILWAYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 28, 1913.

Application filed March 13, 1913. Serial No. 754,119.

To all fio/0m t may concern lie it known that l, LAWRENCE C. lvloonnr, a citizen of the United States, residing;l at itflontgoinery, in the county of lillontgomery and State of Alabama7 have invented new and useful improvements in Cross-Ties for Railways, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railroad crossties and is designed to be relatively less expensive and more practicable than cross ties now in connnon use.

The object of this invention is to provide a clifoss-tie inade principally of cement concrete and strengthened by a longitudinal bar ot inetal embedded therein and extend ingsubstaiitially from end to end oi' the tic, said bar having a cruciforined cross-section throughout the greater part of its length with an enlarged portion near each end as wide as the cross-tie, but oi less height to serve as supports Afor the rails. "Within the enlarged portions of the bar are horizontal chambers or pockets open at one end only to receive blocks ol wood or other suitable material capable of holding` the rail spikes which are driven thereinto through holes formed in the top of said enlarged portions. its the enlarged portions or pockets have the saine width as the cross-tie and extend to the top thereof they are not covered ontheir ends and top with concrete but lie in the saine plane respectively as the vertical sides and top of the tie. The concrete termine; the body of the tie is partly divided by the enlarged portions into three main sections, one section extending; between the portions or pockets, and a section extending trein each pocket to the end ot the cross-tie. Beneath each pocket is a relatively thin layer of concrete connecting the middle section with the end sections, within each of which layers is embedded a. rein- `forcing` cradle the ends oi which extend up into the body ot the adjacent sections and add strength to an otherwise relatively weak portion of the crosstie. The cruciforin strengthening bar extends between the pockets and from each pocket toward the ends oi the tie and serve to bind the concrete sections to the metal pockets or enlarged portions and thereby forni a strong, rigid and time resisting1 structure.

Another object of the invention is directed to a novel rail fastening device torming a part of the cross-tie. By means of this device or rail chair, rails are held rigidly in position and prevented ironi mov inn* laterally on the cross-ties, overturning, or loosening and drawingl the spikes by the weight and lateral pressure of passing,- trains.

lilith this and other objects in view the invention consists ot the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts llereinail'ter described and claimed. and illus` line oit Fig. 2. Fig'. 6 is a similar View y on the line 6 G of the Fig. 3. Fin'. 7 is longitudinal sectional view on the line 7--7,

Fig. l., said ligure and Figs. Ll, 5 and 6 being on the saine scale. Fiyi. 8 is a plan view of a portion of a railroad track showing the manner of laying,` the same and securing the rails in their chairs against lateral Inovenient and loosening oix the spikes.

.ln the drawings, wherein like reference characters are used to indicate like parts in all of the figures, A. indicates the cross-tie as a whole having' substantially the saine length, width and height as cross-ties now in connnon use and made principally of cement concrete or other suitable plastic inaterial. ln thc center of the tie is a longitudinal strengthening ineinber or beani l0 made ot' inetal of crucifornfi cross-section and extending' from end to end ol the tie. Near each end of said member is an enlarged portion 11 projecting above, below enlarged portions ll. The horizontal ribs 14 where they join the portions or pockets 11 are widened at 15 to give strength to the tie and resist lateral strain. Between said widened portions 15 of the member 10 and the sides of the enlarged portions 11 are a plurality of ribs 1G which serve as braces between the member 1G and the en larg-ed portions and also firmly bind and anchor the concrete of the tie to the metal reinforce. The ends of the strengthening member 10 terminate in vertical plates 17 which serve as anchors for the concrete sections forming the ends of the ties.

Perforations 1S are formed in the enlarged portionsor pockets 11 near the top and bottom walls of the same and transversely thereof, but longitudinally o-f the tie, in which perforations are seated bars 19 extending from one pocket to the other and fastened in position against t-he sides of the pockets which when made with inclined walls as in the drawings has lugs 2O cast thereon. The number of bars may vary according to requirement, in the drawings, two are shown on the upper side of the tie and two on the lower side. In addition to the bars 19 are other reinforcing rods 2l Vwhich extending from end to end of the tie through holes 22 in the enlarged portions 11 the ends of these rods being bent into the form of hooks as shown to more irmly anchor themV in the concrete of the tie. The strengthening member 10 with the bars 19 and reinforcing rods 21 are placed in a suitable mold and the latter lled with concrete and packed around the parts, the concrete incasing the whole of the strengthening member and the sides and bottom of the enlarged portions 11. The ends of the enlarged portions are not covered with cement, they lyinO in the same plane as the vertical sides of the tie. The tops of said portions are also free of cement and lie in the plane of the top of the tie, the concrete just covering the tops of the lugs 20 and the ribs 16.

rl`he cross-tie constructed as described comprises three main concrete sections, a middle section 23 and two end sections 2st and 25 connected to the central section 23 by a thin layer of concrete 26 beneath the enlarged portions 11. lVere not some means provided for strengthening the thin layers 26 these parts would prove an element ot' weakness in the tie. This weakness, however, is overcome by embedding within the concrete forming the layers 2G, reinforcing cradles Q7 which extend longitudinally of the tie for a short distance beneath the enlarged portions 11 and then incline upwardly, their ends terminating in the body of the tie below the strengthening member 10. The ends of the cradles are bent upon themselves to form hooks which serve as anchors for the purpose of more securely suspending said cradles in the concrete.

The top surfaces of the enlarged portions or pockets 11 form rail seats and are provided with suitable fastening devices or chairs for holding the rails. These chairs are alike on both pockets, so one only need be described. The chair comprises a rib 28 project-ing up from the top of the pocket from end to end thereof, across the tie with an undercut groove 29 in one side shaped to tit one side of the base of a rail B and hold the rail firmly on its seat. The other side of the rail base is held in place by a key 30, as long as the rib 28, having an overhanging lip 31 on one side to overlie the rail base, and a dove-tailed foot 32 slidable in a channel 33 of like shape in the top of the pocket 11 entirely across the tie. Holes 34C are made in the rib 28, key 30 and top of the pocket through which spikes 35 are driven into the wooden blocks t in the pockets. The spikes used differ from the ordinary rail spikes by having a shoulder 36 on one side a short distance below the head which when driven home, bear on the base of the rail and preventit creeping. The heads of the spikes bear at the same time on the rib and key.

Attention is called to the relative positions of the ribs Q8 and keys 30 at the two ends of the cross-tie. At one end the rib 28 is on the outer side of the enlarged portion 11, or the side nearest the end of the tie, while at the other end the rib is on the inner side of the enlarged portion or the side away from the end. This is done to permit the rails being held in position by the chairs with positive security from spreading, overturning or loosening the spikes by the manner of laying the track.

lEig. S shows a section of track comprising two cross-ties with rails thereon. The ties when placed in position are arranged with their ends alternating. llfhat is, one tie is placed with the fixed rib 28 at one end on the outside of rail B and at the other end of the inside of rail B. The next tie will have the sliding key at one end on the outside of rail B and at the other end on the inside of rail B. The third tie will be placed similar to the lirst and so on throughout the length of the track. This arrangement may be varied slightly by placing two or three ties alike, followed by two or three ties reversely arranged.

rlhe cross-ties when placed on the ground ready to receive the rails are without the keys 30 and do not lie with their ends in line as in Fig. S, but are olfset, the ends of alternate ties projecting, so that the rails may be supported on the ties at that side of the ribs QS in which are the grooves 29. Then by means of a pinch bar or other tool, the ties are forced endwise toward the rails until the grooves 29 closely enibr ce the bases thereof, after which the keys 30 areslid into place, and the spikes driven. By this plan of track laying, each rail is firmly held in upright position by the overhang of the rib E28 and key 30 fitting closely upon the base of the rail. The ribs being integral with the enlarged portions or seats ll, and the keys firmly mounted therein by dovetailed connections, the weight of heavy trains, especially when on curves tending `to spread` the rails and overturn them by the lateral pressure thereon due to centrifugal force, is entirely prevented and the rails stand firmly in place until worn out. The keys 30 in addition to their dovetailed connecting feet 32 and the spikes 35 for preventing the rails lifting them when trains are passing, each have a bead 38 on the side opposite the lip 3l that bears on the top of the pocket ll and gives the key` greater support and acts as a brace therefor.

rllhe reinforcing beam or member l0 is made of cruciform cross-section to give greater' strength to the tie to resist vertical strains without adding excessive weight and bulk thereto. rlhe rib 13 disposed vert-ically, adds greatly to the strength of the cross tie and prevents it from breaking when laid on ground that affords uneven support.

l. A railroad cross-tie comprising a concrete body having a metallic strengthening member of crucif'o-rm cross-section embedded therein and extending from end to end of the tie, said member having enlarged portions formed adjacent the ends thereof and integral therewith on which the rails are seated, and a plurality of small strengthening ribs between the cruoiform member and the enlarged portions.

2. A railroad cross-tie comprising a concrete body having a metallic strengthening member of cruciform cross-section embedded therein and extending from end to end of the tie, said member having enlarged portions formed adjacent the ends thereof and integral therewith of less height than said tie and extending from end to end of the tie, said member having enlarged portions formed adjacent the ends thereof and integral therewith of less height than said tie and extending from side to side thereof, said enlarged portions each having a pocket thereinopen on one side, cushion blocks tightly fitted in said pockets, and a rail chair on the top of each enlarged portion having a removable side.

3. A railroad cross-tie comprising a concrete body having a metallic strengthening member of crnciform cross-section embedded therein and extending from end to end of `the tie, said member having enlarged portions formed adjacent the ends thereof and integral therewith of less height than said tie extending from side to side thereof and flush with its top, a plurality of small strengthening' ribs between the cruciform .member and the enlarged portions, reinforcing bars between the enlarged portions, reinforcing rods extending through said portions from end to end of the tie and a reinforcing cradle beneath the enlarged portions.

` d. A railroad cross-tie comprising a metallic strengthening member of cruciform cross-section substantially as long as the tie and having near each end an enlarged portion to support the rails, aconcrete body having parallel vertical sides and parallel bottom and top wholly incasing the cruciform part of said strengthening member and the sides and bottom of the enlarged portions, the ends and tops of said portions being iush respectively with the vertical sides and top of the concrete, and a reinforcing member embedded in the thin layer of concrete beneath each enlarged portion with upwardly inclined ends extending into the body of the tie.

5. A railroad cross-tie comprising a concrete body having a metallic strengthening member of cruciform cross-section embedded therein and extending from end to end of the tie, said member having enlarged portions formed adjacent the ends thereof and integral therewith on which the rails are seated, said enlarged portions each having a pocket therein open on one side, cushion blocks tightly iitted in said pockets, and a rail chair on the top of each enlarged portion having a removable side, one of said removable sides being on the outside of one rail and the other removable side on the inner side of the other rail.

6. A railroad tie comprising a concrete body having a metallic strengthening member of cruciform cross-section embedded therein and extending from end to end of the tie, said member' having enlarged portions formed adjacent the ends thereof and integral therewith on which the rails are seated, a fixed rib on each enlarged portion extending across the tie in oneiside to receive a rail base, and a removable key on said enlarged portion to coperate with said grooved rib for holding a rail, one of said keys being on the outside of one rib and the other key on the inside of the other rib.

7 A railroad cross-tie comprising a concrete body having a metallic strengthening member' of cruciform cross section embedded therein and extending from end to end of the tie, said member having enlarged portions formed adjacent the ends thereof and integral therewith on which the rails are seated, said enlarged portions each having a pocket therein open on one side, cushion blocks tightly fitted in said body, a fixed transverse rib on each enlarged portion having a groove in one side to receive a rail spikes Which are driven into the cushion 10 base, a removable key sliclable transversely blocks.

in a Channel in said enlarged portion hav- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ing an overhanging lip to cooperate With my hand in presence of two subscribing Witsaid grooved portion for holding a rail, and nesses.

a bead on the side of the key opposite said LAWRENCE C. MOONEY. rib to assist in sustaining said key in po- Vitnesses:

sition, said rib, key and enlarged portion B. GUY SMITH,

having holes therethrough for rail-holding CLAUDE HOLLIDAY. f

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

